IEBC Releases Election Nomination Dates for Candidates and Parties

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has published the nomination dates for candidates and political parties on their website. In a notice dated December 28^th, 2012 the electoral body has confirmed that the next General Election will be held on March 4, 2013.

According to the notice, political parties wishing to participate in the polls must finalize the nominations of its candidate on or before the January 18^th, 2013 while the days for the nomination of political parties candidates and Independent candidates for the Presidential Election will be on January 29^th, 2013 and January 30^th, 2013.

The notice has gone further to state that the nomination papers shall be delivered by candidates to the Chairperson of the Electoral commission or his designate at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC). The extension from January 4^th to 18^th comes days after Members of Parliament amended the Election Law to extend the deadline for them to change parties ahead of the polls.

Other highlights of the notice include:

• Nomination disputes shall be determined within 7 days of the lodging of the dispute with the Commission.
• Nomination of the candidates for the County Governor General Elections will be on January 31^st, 2013 and February 1^st, 2013. Nomination papers shall be delivered by candidates to the County Returning Officers in the county.
• Nomination days of political-parties candidates and Independent candidates for the National Assembly Elections will be on January 31^st, 2013 and February 1^st, 2013. Nomination papers shall be delivered by candidates to the Returning Officers in the respective constituencies.
• Nomination days of political-parties candidates and Independent candidates for the County Assembly Elections will be on 29^th, 30^th and 31^st January, 2013. Nomination papers shall be delivered by candidates to the Constituency Returning Officers in the respective constituencies.
• Nomination of political-parties and Independent candidates for the Senators and Women Representatives will be on January 31^st and February 1^st.
• Submission of nominees of party lists shall be on the January 31^st, 2013 at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices Anniversary Towers.

The body expects to start the inspection of voter’s register on Friday, January 4^th, before conducting voter education around the country.

IEBC Gets Additional Money

The electoral body, which is working on a Sh17.5 billion budget, has received an additional Sh6.68 billion to fund preparations for the March 4^th General election.  The funds will go into procurement of ballot boxes, payment of staff and laying of logistics for the election.